The private residence of the commissioner of Bor County in South Sudan’s Jonglei State was set ablaze by unknown assailants on Friday, police said.
The residence, in the Langbar suburb, is about a 30-minute drive from the Jonglei state government headquarters.
Major Akech Mapiou, the state police spokesperson, told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that a manhunt was underway for those responsible for the arson.
“At 3 p.m. on Friday, some armed assailants went to the private residence of the commissioner and burnt it to ashes,” Mapiou said. “A criminal case has been filed with us and searches for suspects are ongoing. No arrest has been made so far.”
Police urged residents to remain calm, describing the incident as isolated and saying it should not cause alarm over their safety.
The extent of the property damage and its financial value were not immediately known. No one was injured because the house was empty at the time, as the residents had gone to attend a wrestling ceremony.
Several calls to Bor County Commissioner Samuel Ateny Pech went unanswered.
Kenya Mach, an activist with the Jonglei State Women Association, condemned the arson and said the incident is a cause for concern.
“This happened a day after a shooting incident. It is really concerning. If the commissioner’s residence can be attacked, how safe are ordinary citizens?” she said.
Mach said the incident is part of a series of security concerns in the area, including what she described as rising gang violence.
She urged the government to establish vocational training centres and create more job opportunities for young people, saying youth idleness is contributing to rising violence.
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